diff --git a/src/app/menu.resolver.ts b/src/app/menu.resolver.ts
index af7f80eb69b..a2d42823c74 100644
--- a/src/app/menu.resolver.ts
+++ b/src/app/menu.resolver.ts
@@ -52,6 +52,7 @@ import { environment } from '../environments/environment';
 import { SectionDataService } from './core/layout/section-data.service';
 import { Section } from './core/layout/models/section.model';
 import { NOTIFICATIONS_RECITER_SUGGESTION_PATH } from './admin/admin-notifications/admin-notifications-routing-paths';
+import { LinkIconMenuItemModel } from './shared/menu/menu-item/models/linkicon.model';
 
 /**
  * Creates all of the app's menus
@@ -133,35 +134,76 @@ export class MenuResolver implements Resolve<boolean> {
           };
           if (section.nestedSections && section.nestedSections.length) {
             section.nestedSections.forEach((nested) => {
-              menuList.push({
-                id: `explore_nested_${nested.id}`,
-                parentID: `explore_${section.id}`,
-                active: false,
-                visible: true,
+              if (environment.layout.navbar.showExploreIcons && environment.layout.navbar.showExploreIcons.find(value => value.explore_id.match(nested.id)) !== undefined) {
+                const config = environment.layout.navbar.showExploreIcons.find(value => value.explore_id.match(nested.id));
+                  menuList.push({
+                    id: `explore_nested_${nested.id}`,
+                    parentID: `explore_${section.id}`,
+                    active: false,
+                    visible: true,
+                    model: {
+                      type: MenuItemType.LINKICON,
+                      text: `menu.section.explore_${nested.id}`,
+                      icon: config.icon || undefined,
+                      link: `/explore/${nested.id}`
+                    } as LinkIconMenuItemModel
+                  });
+              } else {
+                menuList.push({
+                  id: `explore_nested_${nested.id}`,
+                  parentID: `explore_${section.id}`,
+                  active: false,
+                  visible: true,
+                  model: {
+                    type: MenuItemType.LINK,
+                    text: `menu.section.explore_${nested.id}`,
+                    link: `/explore/${nested.id}`
+                  } as LinkMenuItemModel
+                });
+              }
+            });
+            if (environment.layout.navbar.showExploreIcons && environment.layout.navbar.showExploreIcons.find(value => value.explore_id.match(section.id)) !== undefined) {
+              const config = environment.layout.navbar.showExploreIcons.find(value => value.explore_id.match(section.id));
+              parentMenu = {
+                ...parentMenu,
+                model: {
+                  type: MenuItemType.LINKICON,
+                  text: `menu.section.explore_${section.id}`,
+                  icon: config.icon || undefined,
+                } as LinkIconMenuItemModel,
+              };
+            } else {
+              parentMenu = {
+                ...parentMenu,
+                index: 1,
+                model: {
+                  type: MenuItemType.TEXT,
+                  text: `menu.section.explore_${section.id}`
+                } as TextMenuItemModel,
+              };
+            }
+          } else {
+            if (environment.layout.navbar.showExploreIcons && environment.layout.navbar.showExploreIcons.find(value => value.explore_id.match(section.id)) !== undefined) {
+              const config = environment.layout.navbar.showExploreIcons.find(value => value.explore_id.match(section.id));
+              parentMenu = {
+                ...parentMenu,
+                model: {
+                  type: MenuItemType.LINKICON,
+                  text: `menu.section.explore_${section.id}`,
+                  icon: config.icon || undefined,
+                  link: `/explore/${section.id}`
+                } as LinkIconMenuItemModel
+              };
+            } else {
+              parentMenu = {
+                ...parentMenu,
                 model: {
                   type: MenuItemType.LINK,
-                  text: `menu.section.explore_${nested.id}`,
-                  link: `/explore/${nested.id}`
+                  text: `menu.section.explore_${section.id}`,
+                  link: `/explore/${section.id}`
                 } as LinkMenuItemModel
-              });
-            });
-            parentMenu = {
-              ...parentMenu,
-              index: 1,
-              model: {
-                type: MenuItemType.TEXT,
-                text: `menu.section.explore_${section.id}`
-              } as TextMenuItemModel,
-            };
-          } else {
-            parentMenu = {
-              ...parentMenu,
-              model: {
-                type: MenuItemType.LINK,
-                text: `menu.section.explore_${section.id}`,
-                link: `/explore/${section.id}`
-              } as LinkMenuItemModel
-            };
+              };
+            }
           }
           menuList.push(parentMenu);
         });
@@ -170,7 +212,6 @@ export class MenuResolver implements Resolve<boolean> {
         shouldPersistOnRouteChange: true
       })));
     });
-
     this.createStatisticsMenu();
     return this.waitForMenu$(MenuID.PUBLIC);
   }
diff --git a/src/app/shared/menu/menu-item-type.model.ts b/src/app/shared/menu/menu-item-type.model.ts
index 0063ed77e7a..fe0eea30852 100644
--- a/src/app/shared/menu/menu-item-type.model.ts
+++ b/src/app/shared/menu/menu-item-type.model.ts
@@ -2,5 +2,5 @@
  * List of possible MenuItemTypes
  */
 export enum MenuItemType {
-  TEXT, LINK, ALTMETRIC, SEARCH, ONCLICK, EXTERNAL
+  TEXT, LINK, ALTMETRIC, SEARCH, ONCLICK, EXTERNAL, LINKICON
 }
diff --git a/src/app/shared/menu/menu-item/linkicon-menu-item.component.html b/src/app/shared/menu/menu-item/linkicon-menu-item.component.html
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..fd11bd13b50
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/app/shared/menu/menu-item/linkicon-menu-item.component.html
@@ -0,0 +1,25 @@
+<ng-container *ngIf="isExternal; else internal"><a class="nav-item nav-link"
+   [ngClass]="{ 'disabled': !hasLink }"
+   [attr.aria-disabled]="!hasLink"
+   [title]="item.text | translate"
+   [href]="href()"
+   (click)="$event.stopPropagation()"
+   (keyup.space)="navigate($event)"
+   (keyup.enter)="navigate($event)"
+><span *ngIf="item.icon" class="exploreicon">
+    <span class="{{item.icon}} pr-1"></span>
+  </span>{{item.text | translate}}</a>
+</ng-container>
+<ng-template #internal><a class="nav-item nav-link"
+                          [ngClass]="{ 'disabled': !hasLink }"
+                          [attr.aria-disabled]="!hasLink"
+                          [title]="item.text | translate"
+                          [routerLink]="getRouterLink()"
+                          (click)="$event.stopPropagation()"
+                          (keyup.space)="navigate($event)"
+                          (keyup.enter)="navigate($event)"
+                          href="javascript:void(0);"
+><span *ngIf="item.icon" class="exploreicon">
+    <span class="{{item.icon}} pr-1"></span>
+</span>{{item.text | translate}}</a>
+</ng-template>
diff --git a/src/app/shared/menu/menu-item/linkicon-menu-item.component.scss b/src/app/shared/menu/menu-item/linkicon-menu-item.component.scss
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..585100474b3
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/app/shared/menu/menu-item/linkicon-menu-item.component.scss
@@ -0,0 +1,36 @@
+
+  .exploreicon {
+  text-align:center;
+  }
+
+  p.exploreicon {
+  margin-bottom: 4px;
+  }
+
+.exploreicon {
+    @media screen and (max-width: map-get($grid-breakpoints, md)) {
+	text-align:left;
+        float:left;
+        padding-right: 16px;
+
+        p.exploreicon {
+        margin-bottom: 1rem;
+  	}
+
+	}
+}
+
+.nav-link {
+    @media screen and (max-width: map-get($grid-breakpoints, md)) {
+	vertical-align:middle;
+        border-bottom: 2px solid white;
+	}
+}
+
+.nav-link > p {
+    @media screen and (max-width: map-get($grid-breakpoints, md)) {
+	margin-bottom:4px;
+	vertical-align:middle;
+	}
+}
+
diff --git a/src/app/shared/menu/menu-item/linkicon-menu-item.component.spec.ts b/src/app/shared/menu/menu-item/linkicon-menu-item.component.spec.ts
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..d395fe9c422
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/app/shared/menu/menu-item/linkicon-menu-item.component.spec.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,217 @@
+import { ComponentFixture, TestBed, waitForAsync } from '@angular/core/testing';
+import { TranslateModule } from '@ngx-translate/core';
+import { DebugElement, NO_ERRORS_SCHEMA } from '@angular/core';
+import { By } from '@angular/platform-browser';
+import { LinkIconMenuItemComponent } from './linkicon-menu-item.component';
+import { Router } from '@angular/router';
+import { RouterStub } from '../../testing/router.stub';
+import { RouterLinkDirectiveStub } from '../../testing/router-link-directive.stub';
+
+describe('LinkIconMenuItemComponent', () => {
+  let component: LinkIconMenuItemComponent;
+  let fixture: ComponentFixture<LinkIconMenuItemComponent>;
+  let debugElement: DebugElement;
+  let text;
+  let link;
+  let icon;
+
+  describe('with icon and external link', () => {
+
+    function init() {
+      text = 'HELLO';
+      link = 'https://google.com/';
+      icon = 'fa fa-user';
+    }
+
+    beforeEach(waitForAsync(() => {
+      init();
+      TestBed.configureTestingModule({
+        imports: [TranslateModule.forRoot()],
+        declarations: [LinkIconMenuItemComponent],
+        providers: [
+          {provide: 'itemModelProvider', useValue: {text: text, link: link, icon: icon}},
+          {provide: Router, useValue: RouterStub},
+        ],
+        schemas: [NO_ERRORS_SCHEMA]
+      })
+        .compileComponents();
+    }));
+
+    beforeEach(() => {
+      fixture = TestBed.createComponent(LinkIconMenuItemComponent);
+      component = fixture.componentInstance;
+      debugElement = fixture.debugElement;
+      fixture.detectChanges();
+    });
+
+    it('should create', () => {
+      expect(component).toBeTruthy();
+    });
+
+    it('should contain the correct text', () => {
+      const textContent = debugElement.query(By.css('a')).nativeElement.textContent;
+      expect(textContent).toEqual(text);
+    });
+
+    it('should have the right href attribute', () => {
+      const links = fixture.debugElement.queryAll(By.css('a'));
+      expect(links.length).toBe(1);
+      expect(links[0].nativeElement.href).toBe(link);
+    });
+
+    it('should set the right icon', () => {
+      const menuicon = fixture.debugElement.query(By.css('.exploreicon')).query(By.css('span'));
+      expect(menuicon.nativeElement.getAttribute('class')).toContain(icon);
+    });
+  });
+
+  describe('with external link and no icon', () => {
+    function init() {
+      text = 'HELLO';
+      link = 'https://google.com/';
+      icon = undefined;
+    }
+
+    beforeEach(waitForAsync(() => {
+      init();
+      TestBed.configureTestingModule({
+        imports: [TranslateModule.forRoot()],
+        declarations: [LinkIconMenuItemComponent],
+        providers: [
+          { provide: 'itemModelProvider', useValue: { text: text, link: link, icon: icon } },
+          { provide: Router, useValue: RouterStub },
+        ],
+        schemas: [NO_ERRORS_SCHEMA]
+      })
+        .compileComponents();
+    }));
+
+    beforeEach(() => {
+      fixture = TestBed.createComponent(LinkIconMenuItemComponent);
+      component = fixture.componentInstance;
+      debugElement = fixture.debugElement;
+      fixture.detectChanges();
+    });
+
+    it('should create', () => {
+      expect(component).toBeTruthy();
+    });
+
+    it('should contain the correct text', () => {
+      const textContent = debugElement.query(By.css('a')).nativeElement.textContent;
+      expect(textContent).toEqual(text);
+    });
+
+    it('should have the right href attribute', () => {
+      const links = fixture.debugElement.queryAll(By.css('a'));
+      expect(links.length).toBe(1);
+      expect(links[0].nativeElement.href).toBe(link);
+    });
+
+    it('should set no icon', () => {
+      expect(fixture.debugElement.query(By.css('.exploreicon'))).toBeNull();
+    });
+  });
+
+  describe('with internal route and icon', () => {
+    function init() {
+      text = 'HELLO';
+      link = '/researcherprofiles';
+      icon = 'fa fa-user';
+    }
+
+    beforeEach(waitForAsync(() => {
+      init();
+      TestBed.configureTestingModule({
+        imports: [TranslateModule.forRoot()],
+        declarations: [LinkIconMenuItemComponent, RouterLinkDirectiveStub],
+        providers: [
+          { provide: 'itemModelProvider', useValue: { text: text, link: link, icon: icon } },
+          { provide: Router, useValue: RouterStub },
+        ],
+        schemas: [NO_ERRORS_SCHEMA]
+      })
+        .compileComponents();
+    }));
+
+    beforeEach(() => {
+      fixture = TestBed.createComponent(LinkIconMenuItemComponent);
+      component = fixture.componentInstance;
+      debugElement = fixture.debugElement;
+      fixture.detectChanges();
+    });
+
+    it('should create', () => {
+      expect(component).toBeTruthy();
+    });
+
+    it('should contain the correct text', () => {
+      const textContent = debugElement.query(By.css('a')).nativeElement.textContent;
+      expect(textContent).toEqual(text);
+    });
+
+    it('should have the right routerLink attribute', () => {
+      const linkDes = fixture.debugElement.queryAll(By.directive(RouterLinkDirectiveStub));
+      const routerLinkQuery = linkDes.map((de) => de.injector.get(RouterLinkDirectiveStub));
+
+      expect(routerLinkQuery.length).toBe(1);
+      expect(routerLinkQuery[0].routerLink).toContain(link);
+    });
+
+    it('should set the right icon', () => {
+      const menuicon = fixture.debugElement.query(By.css('.exploreicon')).query(By.css('span'));
+      expect(menuicon.nativeElement.getAttribute('class')).toContain(icon);
+    });
+
+  });
+
+  describe('with internal route and no icon', () => {
+
+    function init() {
+      text = 'HELLO';
+      link = '/researcherprofiles';
+      icon = undefined;
+    }
+
+    beforeEach(waitForAsync(() => {
+      init();
+      TestBed.configureTestingModule({
+        imports: [TranslateModule.forRoot()],
+        declarations: [LinkIconMenuItemComponent, RouterLinkDirectiveStub],
+        providers: [
+          { provide: 'itemModelProvider', useValue: { text: text, link: link, icon: icon } },
+          { provide: Router, useValue: RouterStub },
+        ],
+        schemas: [NO_ERRORS_SCHEMA]
+      })
+        .compileComponents();
+    }));
+
+    beforeEach(() => {
+      fixture = TestBed.createComponent(LinkIconMenuItemComponent);
+      component = fixture.componentInstance;
+      debugElement = fixture.debugElement;
+      fixture.detectChanges();
+    });
+
+    it('should create', () => {
+      expect(component).toBeTruthy();
+    });
+
+    it('should contain the correct text', () => {
+      const textContent = debugElement.query(By.css('a')).nativeElement.textContent;
+      expect(textContent).toEqual(text);
+    });
+
+    it('should have the right routerLink attribute', () => {
+      const linkDes = fixture.debugElement.queryAll(By.directive(RouterLinkDirectiveStub));
+      const routerLinkQuery = linkDes.map((de) => de.injector.get(RouterLinkDirectiveStub));
+      expect(routerLinkQuery.length).toBe(1);
+      expect(routerLinkQuery[0].routerLink).toContain(link);
+    });
+
+    it('should set no icon', () => {
+      expect(fixture.debugElement.query(By.css('.exploreicon'))).toBeNull();
+    });
+  });
+});
diff --git a/src/app/shared/menu/menu-item/linkicon-menu-item.component.ts b/src/app/shared/menu/menu-item/linkicon-menu-item.component.ts
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..70abecbf8f3
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/app/shared/menu/menu-item/linkicon-menu-item.component.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,56 @@
+import { Component, Inject, OnInit } from '@angular/core';
+import { LinkIconMenuItemModel } from './models/linkicon.model';
+import { MenuItemType } from '../menu-item-type.model';
+import { rendersMenuItemForType } from '../menu-item.decorator';
+import { isNotEmpty } from '../../empty.util';
+import { environment } from '../../../../environments/environment';
+import { Router } from '@angular/router';
+import { TranslateService } from '@ngx-translate/core';
+
+/**
+ * Component that renders a menu section of type LINK
+ */
+@Component({
+  selector: 'ds-linkicon-menu-item',
+    styleUrls: ['./linkicon-menu-item.component.scss'],
+  templateUrl: './linkicon-menu-item.component.html'
+})
+@rendersMenuItemForType(MenuItemType.LINKICON)
+export class LinkIconMenuItemComponent implements OnInit {
+  item: LinkIconMenuItemModel;
+  hasLink: boolean;
+  isExternal: boolean;
+  icon: string;
+  constructor(
+    @Inject('itemModelProvider') item: LinkIconMenuItemModel,
+    private router: Router,
+    protected translateService: TranslateService,
+  ) {
+    this.item = item;
+  }
+
+  ngOnInit(): void {
+    this.hasLink = isNotEmpty(this.item.link);
+    // simple check
+    this.isExternal = this.hasLink && this.item.link.startsWith('http');
+  }
+
+  getRouterLink() {
+    if (this.hasLink) {
+      return environment.ui.nameSpace + this.item.link;
+    }
+    return undefined;
+  }
+
+  navigate(event: any) {
+    event.preventDefault();
+    if (this.getRouterLink()) {
+      this.router.navigate([this.getRouterLink()]);
+    }
+    event.stopPropagation();
+  }
+
+  href(): string {
+      return this.item.link;
+  }
+}
diff --git a/src/app/shared/menu/menu-item/models/linkicon.model.ts b/src/app/shared/menu/menu-item/models/linkicon.model.ts
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..3814b576bae
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/app/shared/menu/menu-item/models/linkicon.model.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,15 @@
+import { MenuItemModel } from './menu-item.model';
+import { MenuItemType } from './../../menu-item-type.model';
+
+/**
+ * Model representing an Link and Icon Menu Section
+ */
+export class LinkIconMenuItemModel implements MenuItemModel {
+  type = MenuItemType.LINKICON;
+  text: string;
+  icon?: string;
+  style?: string;
+  link: string;
+  disabled: boolean;
+
+}
diff --git a/src/app/shared/menu/menu.module.ts b/src/app/shared/menu/menu.module.ts
index 28bdab99879..7bbc06f06c2 100644
--- a/src/app/shared/menu/menu.module.ts
+++ b/src/app/shared/menu/menu.module.ts
@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@ import { NgModule } from '@angular/core';
 import { TranslateModule } from '@ngx-translate/core';
 import { RouterModule } from '@angular/router';
 import { LinkMenuItemComponent } from './menu-item/link-menu-item.component';
+import { LinkIconMenuItemComponent } from './menu-item/linkicon-menu-item.component';
 import { TextMenuItemComponent } from './menu-item/text-menu-item.component';
 import { OnClickMenuItemComponent } from './menu-item/onclick-menu-item.component';
 import { CommonModule } from '@angular/common';
@@ -17,6 +18,7 @@ const COMPONENTS = [
 const ENTRY_COMPONENTS = [
   TextMenuItemComponent,
   LinkMenuItemComponent,
+  LinkIconMenuItemComponent,
   OnClickMenuItemComponent,
   ExternalLinkMenuItemComponent,
 ];
diff --git a/src/config/default-app-config.ts b/src/config/default-app-config.ts
index 674a746a513..712eb9228d7 100644
--- a/src/config/default-app-config.ts
+++ b/src/config/default-app-config.ts
@@ -585,6 +585,12 @@ export class DefaultAppConfig implements AppConfig {
     navbar: {
       // If true, show the "Community and Collections" link in the navbar; otherwise, show it in the admin sidebar
       showCommunityCollection: true,
+      // {
+      // explore_id: 'fundings_and_projects',
+      // icon: 'fa fa-project-diagram'
+      // }
+      showExploreIcons: [
+      ]
     }
   };
 
diff --git a/src/config/layout-config.interfaces.ts b/src/config/layout-config.interfaces.ts
index b5f293800c1..94b6def79e1 100644
--- a/src/config/layout-config.interfaces.ts
+++ b/src/config/layout-config.interfaces.ts
@@ -36,6 +36,12 @@ export interface CrisLayoutTypeConfig {
 
 export interface NavbarConfig extends Config {
   showCommunityCollection: boolean;
+  showExploreIcons?: NavbarItemIconConfig[]
+}
+
+export interface NavbarItemIconConfig extends Config {
+  explore_id: string;
+  icon: string;
 }
 
 export interface CrisItemPageConfig extends Config {